TESS
Overview
The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite
TESS is a NASA Explorer mission launched in 2018 to study exoplanets, or planets orbiting stars outside our solar system. TESS will discover thousands of exoplanets in orbit around the brightest stars in the sky. It will monitor more than 200,000 stars, looking for temporary dips in brightness caused by planets transiting across these stars. This first-ever spaceborne all-sky transit survey will identify a wide range of planets, from Earth-sized to gas giants. The mission will find exoplanet candidates for follow-up observation from missions like the James Webb Space Telescope, which will determine whether these candidates could support life.
For more information, please visit the TESS website.
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Still images
TESS 2022 Sky Views
Go to this pageThis all-sky mosaic was constructed from 912 TESS images. By late October 2022, when the last image of this mosaic was captured, TESS had discovered 266 exoplanets and 4,258 candidates. The north and south ecliptic poles – the ends of imaginary lines extending above and below the center of Earth's orbit around the Sun – lie at the top and bottom of the image. The Andromeda galaxy is the small, bright oval near the upper right edge. The Lage Magellanic Cloud can be seen along the bottom edge just left of center. Above and to the left of it shine the Small Magellanic Cloud and the bright star cluster 47 Tucanae. Molleweide projection. Credit: NASA/MIT/TESS and Ethan Kruse (University of Maryland College Park) || TESS_NandS_12-2022.png (15000x7500) [85.3 MB] || TESS_NandS_12-2022.jpg (15000x7500) [43.4 MB] || TESS_NandS_12-2022_5k.jpg (5000x2500) [4.0 MB] || TESS_NandS_12-2022_5k_print.jpg (1024x512) [104.0 KB] || TESS_NandS_12-2022_5k_searchweb.png (320x180) [55.7 KB] || TESS_NandS_12-2022_5k_thm.png (80x40) [4.8 KB] ||
NASA’s TESS Finds New Worlds in a River of Stars
Go to this pageThis illustration sketches out the main features of TOI 451, a triple-planet system located 400 light-years away in the constellation Eridanus.Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center || TOI_451_infographic_1920.png (1920x1080) [2.6 MB] || TOI_451_infographic_1920_print.jpg (1024x576) [129.4 KB] || TOI_451_infographic_3840.png (3840x2160) [8.2 MB] || TOI_451_infographic_1920_searchweb.png (320x180) [73.0 KB] || TOI_451_infographic_1920_thm.png (80x40) [6.5 KB] ||
TESS Northern and Southern Mosaics
Go to this pageThis plot combines the TESS northern and southern mosaics to show the extent of its primary mission survey. The yearlong southern panorama (bottom) was completed in July 2019, and the northern imaging was completed in July 2020. The prominent glowing band is the Milky Way, our galaxy seen edgewise. The ecliptic – the plane of Earth's orbit and the apparent yearly path of the Sun through the stars – runs straight across the middle of the map. Credit: NASA/MIT/TESS and Ethan Kruse (USRA) || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_30k.png (30000x15000) [135.8 MB] || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_15k.jpg (15000x7500) [40.4 MB] || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_1080.jpg (2160x1080) [821.7 KB] || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_7k.jpg (7500x3750) [9.9 MB] || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_1080_print.jpg (1024x512) [146.3 KB] || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_1080_searchweb.png (320x180) [66.5 KB] || TESS_North-South_Mollweide_Ecliptic_1080_thm.png (80x40) [7.2 KB] ||
TESS's Northern Sky Vista
Go to this pageNASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) spent nearly a year imaging the northern sky in its search for worlds beyond our solar system. Explore this panorama to see what TESS has found so far.Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: "Strolling" from Above and Below. Written and produced by Lars LeonhardWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || TESS_Northern_and_Southern_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [699.1 KB] || 13710_TESS_Northern_Tour_ProRes_1920x1080_2997.mov (1920x1080) [4.0 GB] || 13710_TESS_Northern_Tour_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [1.1 GB] || 13710_TESS_Northern_Tour_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [423.5 MB] || 13710_TESS_Northern_Tour_Best_1080.webm (1920x1080) [33.4 MB] || 13710_TESS_Northern_Tour_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.9 KB] || 13710_TESS_Northern_Tour_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.9 KB] ||
TESS's Southern Sky Panorama
Go to this pageNASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) spent a year imaging the southern sky in its search for worlds beyond our solar system. Dive into a mosaic of these images to see what TESS has found so far. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight CenterMusic: “Phenomenon" from Above and Below Written and produced by Lars LeonhardWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Southern_Sky_Still.jpg (1920x1080) [892.0 KB] || Southern_Sky_Still_print.jpg (1024x576) [222.5 KB] || Southern_Sky_Still_searchweb.png (320x180) [66.5 KB] || Southern_Sky_Still_thm.png (80x40) [5.0 KB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_ProRes_1920x1080_30.mov (1920x1080) [3.5 GB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_Best_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [1.2 GB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_1080.mp4 (1920x1080) [492.4 MB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_Small_720.mp4 (1280x720) [250.7 MB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_Small_720.webm (1280x720) [26.3 MB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [4.3 KB] || 13285_TESS_SouthernSky_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [4.3 KB] ||
TESS Southern Hemisphere Sector Images
Go to this pageSector 1.The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) observed this strip of stars and galaxies in the southern sky from July 25, 2018, to August 22, 2018. TESS captured this individual image during one 30-minute period on 2018-08-07 at 04:59:42 UTC. The Large and Small Magellanic Clouds appear on the right-hand side. || TESS_Sector_1.png (16774x4272) [75.1 MB] || TESS_Sector_1.jpeg (16774x4272) [27.6 MB] || TESS_Sector_1_halfsize.jpeg (8387x2136) [9.7 MB] || TESS_Sector_1_halfsize.png (8387x2136) [9.7 MB] ||
NASA’s TESS Finds Three New Worlds
Go to this pageThis infographic illustrates key features of the TOI 270 system, located about 73 light-years away in the southern constellation Pictor. The three known planets were discovered by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite through periodic dips in starlight caused by each orbiting world. Insets show information about the planets, including their relative sizes, and how they compare to Earth. Temperatures given for TOI 270’s planets are equilibrium temperatures, calculated without the warming effects of any possible atmospheres. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Scott Wiessinger || TOI_270_Infographic_Final_print.jpg (1024x576) [64.1 KB] || TOI_270_Infographic_Final.png (5760x3240) [17.4 MB] || TOI_270_Infographic_Final.jpg (5760x3240) [2.0 MB] || TOI_270_Infographic_Final-halfsize.png (2880x1620) [5.4 MB] || TOI_270_Infographic_Final-halfsize.jpg (2880x1620) [484.0 KB] || TOI_270_Infographic_Final_searchweb.png (320x180) [47.7 KB] || TOI_270_Infographic_Final_thm.png (80x40) [4.9 KB] ||
NASA’s TESS Releases First Science Image
Go to this pageThe Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) took this snapshot of the Large Magellanic Cloud (right) and the bright star R Doradus (left) with just a single detector of one of its cameras on Tuesday, Aug. 7. The frame is part of a swath of the southern sky TESS captured in its “first light” science image as part of its initial round of data collection.Credit: NASA/MIT/TESS || TESSFLleadimagefeature.jpg (987x1019) [839.4 KB] ||
TESS Artist Concept Images
Go to this pageArtist concept of TESS observing an M dwarf star with orbiting planets(with haze). || TESSMDwarfwhaze.jpg (10800x7200) [14.9 MB] || Artist concept images of the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite. || Artist concept of TESS observing an M dwarf star with orbiting planets (without haze). || TESSMDwarfwohaze.jpg (10800x7200) [15.3 MB] || Artist concept of TESS spacecraft. || TESSInSpaceRender1.jpg (6000x4529) [6.1 MB] ||
TESS Spacecraft Beauty Shots
Go to this pageThe fully integrated Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), which launched in 2018 to find thousands of new planets orbiting other stars. || TESS_with_techs_high_res_print.jpg (1024x683) [691.3 KB] || TESS_with_techs_high_res.jpg (6016x4016) [13.2 MB] || TESS_with_techs_high_res_searchweb.png (320x180) [113.4 KB] || TESS_with_techs_high_res_web.png (320x213) [128.9 KB] || TESS_with_techs_high_res_thm.png (80x40) [7.8 KB] ||
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Live Events
NASA’s Newest Planet Hunter To Reveal New Results From Its First Year In Orbit Live Shots
Go to this pageB-roll and canned interviews to be added by 7:00 p.m. EDT July 24 || Screen_Shot_2019-07-03_at_10.56.17_AM.png (2980x462) [1.9 MB] || Screen_Shot_2019-07-03_at_10.56.17_AM_print.jpg (1024x158) [41.8 KB] || Screen_Shot_2019-07-03_at_10.56.17_AM_searchweb.png (180x320) [80.8 KB] || Screen_Shot_2019-07-03_at_10.56.17_AM_thm.png (80x40) [6.5 KB] ||
NASA Preparing to Launch New Planet-Hunting Mission Live Shots
Go to this pageB-Roll for TESS Live Shot || B_ROLL.00001_print.jpg (1024x576) [98.9 KB] || B_ROLL.00001_searchweb.png (320x180) [56.6 KB] || B_ROLL.00001_thm.png (80x40) [5.4 KB] || B_ROLL.mp4 (1280x720) [369.8 MB] || B_ROLL.mov (1280x720) [48.1 GB] || B_ROLL.webm (1280x720) [36.1 MB] ||
Exoplanet Live Shots 2.23.17
Go to this pageB-roll and canned interviews will be added Thursday 2/23 in the morning. Click for more about the news conference on Feb. 22nd. || Exoplanets_LS_2_print.jpg (1024x756) [714.5 KB] || Exoplanets_LS_2.jpg (2696x1992) [3.4 MB] || Exoplanets_LS_2_searchweb.png (320x180) [80.3 KB] || Exoplanets_LS_2_thm.png (80x40) [5.4 KB] ||
Mercury Transit Live Shots May 9, 2016
Go to this pageNASA will broadcast a stunning view of Mercury on May 9 as it journeys across the sun. The event, known as a transit, occurs when Mercury passes directly between Earth and the sun. This rare phenomenon will cause Mercury to look like a black dot gliding across the sun’s face. Mercury’s last transit was in 2006, and it won’t happen again until 2019!Starting at 7:12 a.m. EDT, Mercury will spend more than seven hours travelling across the sun. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory will take the first near real time, ultra-high definition images ever for this event. This is also an opportunity for NASA scientists to fine tune the spacecraft’s cameras, using a method that can only be done during a transit. NASA scientists are available Monday, May 9 from 6:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. EDT to show your viewers amazing images of this event as it unfolds. Scientists will also share why transits are important, and how they’re being used to learn more about planets in our solar system—and beyond. Scientists have been using transits for hundreds of years to study the planets in our solar system. When a planet crosses in front of the sun, it causes the sun’s brightness to dim. Scientists can measure similar brightness dips from other stars to find planets orbiting them, and can calculate their sizes, how far away the planets are from their stars, and even get hints of what they’re made of. Upcoming NASA missions will watch for transits outside our solar system in order to find new planets, including some that could resemble Earth.*To book a windowContact Claire Saravia – claire.g.desaravia@nasa.govSuggested questions: 1.Mercury is trekking across the sun today for the first time in 10 years. How can we see this transit?2.Why are transits so important to astronomers? 3.Why does NASA watch the sun?4.NASA is using the transit method to study planets beyond our solar system. What do we expect to learn from future missions doing this? 5.Where can we learn more? HD Satellite Coordinates for AMC9-K17: AMC-9 Ku-band Xp 17 Slot AB| 83.0 ° W Longitude | DL 12045.8 MHz | Horizontal Polarity | QPSK/DVB-S | FEC 3/4 | SR 13.235 Mbps | DR 18.2954 MHz | HD 720p | Format MPEG2 | Chroma Level 4:2:0 | Audio EmbeddedMercury Transit Gallery Page ||
2017 Spring Equinox Live Shots
Go to this pageB-roll that corresponds with the following suggested questions: 1. What is an equinox?2. There is an exciting event happening this year: a total solar eclipse! When is this happening?3. NASA will be doing some pretty cool science during the eclipse. How is NASA using the eclipse to studythe sun and Earth?4. How do eclipses help us find planets orbiting other stars?5. Where can we learn more?NASA Satellites Ready When Stars and Planets Align. || Screen_Shot_2017-03-20_at_5.23.14_AM_print.jpg (1024x536) [56.1 KB] || Screen_Shot_2017-03-20_at_5.23.14_AM_print_print.jpg (1024x536) [56.4 KB] || Screen_Shot_2017-03-20_at_5.23.14_AM.png (2382x1248) [2.0 MB] || Screen_Shot_2017-03-20_at_5.23.14_AM_print_searchweb.png (320x180) [58.5 KB] || Screen_Shot_2017-03-20_at_5.23.14_AM_print_web.png (320x167) [53.5 KB] || Screen_Shot_2017-03-20_at_5.23.14_AM_print_thm.png (80x40) [5.8 KB] || eclipse_LS_Broll.mp4 (1280x720) [349.3 MB] || eclipse_LS_Broll.webm (1280x720) [33.4 MB] ||
NASM 2016: The Search For Life
Go to this pageComplete transcript available. || Thumbnail_print.jpg (1024x578) [142.3 KB] || Thumbnail.png (3348x1890) [8.3 MB] || Thumbnail_searchweb.png (320x180) [98.0 KB] || Thumbnail_web.png (320x180) [98.5 KB] || Thumbnail_thm.png (80x40) [7.3 KB] || The-Search-For-Life-NASM2016.mov (1920x1080) [52.0 GB] || APPLE_TV-The-Search-For-Life-NASM2016_appletv.m4v (1280x720) [1.0 GB] || NASA_TV-The-Search-For-Life-NASM2016.mpeg (1280x720) [6.8 GB] || The-Search-For-Life-NASM2016.webm (1920x1080) [233.9 MB] || NASMOnline.mp4 (1920x1080) [2.1 GB] || YOUTUBE_HQ-NASMOnline_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [4.8 GB] || APPLE_TV-The-Search-For-Life-NASM2016_appletv_subtitles.m4v (1280x720) [1.0 GB] || NASMOnline.en_US.srt [38.3 KB] || NASMOnline.en_US.vtt [36.5 KB] || The-Search-For-Life-NASM2016_lowres.mp4 (480x272) [280.4 MB] ||
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Alien Atmospheres
Go to this pageSince the early 1990's, astronomers have known that extrasolar planets, or "exoplanets," orbit stars light-years beyond our own solar system. Although most exoplanets are too distant to be directly imaged, detailed studies have been made of their size, composition, and even atmospheric makeup - but how? By observing periodic variations in the parent star's brightness and color, astronomers can indirectly determine an exoplanet's distance from its star, its size, and its mass. But to truly understand an exoplanet astronomers must study its atmosphere, and they do so by splitting apart the parent star's light during a planetary transit. ||
Looking for the Shadows of New Worlds
Go to this pageNASA Goddard astrophysicist Daniel Angerhausen discusses how astronomers may be able to maximize transit photometry to find planets like those in our solar system around other stars -- and possibly moons, rings, and asteroid groups as well. Watch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.For complete transcript, click here. || Photometry_Still_2.jpg (1280x720) [139.8 KB] || Photometry_Still_2_print.jpg (1024x576) [103.0 KB] || Photometry_Still_2_searchweb.png (320x180) [76.9 KB] || Photometry_Still_2_thm.png (80x40) [6.0 KB] || Photometry_FINAL_ProRes_1280x720_5994.mov (1280x720) [3.6 GB] || Photometry_FINAL-H264_Best_1280x720_5994.mov (1280x720) [1.5 GB] || G2015-081_Photometry_FINAL_V2_youtube_hq.mov (1280x720) [604.7 MB] || Photometry_FINAL-H264_Good_1280x720_2997.mov (1280x720) [123.6 MB] || Photometry_FINAL-MPEG4_1280X720_2997.mp4 (1280x720) [63.2 MB] || G2015-081_Photometry_FINAL_V2_HD.wmv (1280x720) [59.0 MB] || G2015-081_Photometry_FINAL_V2_appletv.m4v (1280x720) [151.8 MB] || Photometry_FINAL_ProRes_1280x720_5994.webm (1280x720) [27.3 MB] || G2015-081_Photometry_FINAL_V2_appletv_subtitles.m4v (1280x720) [149.2 MB] || Photometry_Final_SRT_Captions2.en_US.srt [5.1 KB] || Photometry_Final_SRT_Captions2.en_US.vtt [5.1 KB] || NASA_PODCAST_G2015-081_Photometry_FINAL_V2_ipod_sm.mp4 (320x240) [48.5 MB] ||
Join the Search for New Nearby Worlds
Go to this pageJoin the search for new worlds in the outer reaches of our solar system and in nearby interstellar space at Backyard Worlds: Planet 9. Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab/Krystofer D.J. KimMusic: "Novelty Act" from Killer TracksWatch this video on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel.Complete transcript available. || Backyard_Worlds_Still_2.png (1920x1080) [2.1 MB] || Backyard_Worlds_Still_2.jpg (1920x1080) [303.6 KB] || Backyard_Worlds_Still_2_print.jpg (1024x576) [104.8 KB] || Backyard_Worlds_Still_2_searchweb.png (320x180) [49.5 KB] || Backyard_Worlds_Still_2_thm.png (80x40) [4.8 KB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_ProRes_1920x1080.mov (1920x1080) [679.1 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_youtube_hq.mov (1920x1080) [176.5 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_1080p.mov (1920x1080) [76.4 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_Compatible.m4v (960x540) [16.4 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_Good_1080.m4v (1920x1080) [51.3 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_720p.mov (1280x720) [46.9 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_FINAL_Compatible.webm (960x540) [5.5 MB] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_New_SRT_Captions.en_US.srt [531 bytes] || 12498_BackyardWorlds_New_SRT_Captions.en_US.vtt [544 bytes] ||
Mercury Transit May 9, 2016
Go to this pageMercury transiting the Sun || MercuryTransit_fr_00074_print.jpg (1024x576) [68.6 KB] || MercuryTransit_fr_00074_searchweb.png (180x320) [65.8 KB] || MercuryTransit_fr_00074_web.png (320x180) [65.8 KB] || MercuryTransit_fr_00074_thm.png (80x40) [6.0 KB] || 1920x1080_16x9_60p (1920x1080) [64.0 KB] || Mercury_Transit_H264.mov (1920x1080) [242.6 MB] || Mercury_Transit_ProRes.mov (1920x1080) [2.6 GB] || Mercury_Transit_ProRes.webm (1920x1080) [2.3 MB] ||